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Have you ever stood beside a waterfall while out on a hike, or watched the sparkling jets of water shooting out of a water feature in a park? Somehow, there is magic in moving water and it captivates us – soothing our souls and delighting our ears. We can safely say that everyone loves the sight and sound of moving water, which is why more and more homeowners are including water spouts in their home swimming pools.

Why install a pool spout?

A pool simply does not have to be a square body of water with a jiggling Kreepy Krawly. If you are designing a pool or renovating an existing one, then why not add some pizazz with a pool spout? With a seemingly endless range of shapes, sizes and features, a pool spout adds a gorgeous design element to any swimming pool and turns a bland pool into a fluid work of art. Whether you prefer a vertical sheet of falling water, a babbling rock pool, or a fountain feature, a pool spout is guaranteed to bring excitement and fun. The additional design element can add to the value of your home by adding that little something special.

Customised design to suit your space.

The type of pool and spout that you choose will depend largely on the style of your home, and of course, your budget. For example, if your property is on a slope and you are looking for a rustic and natural looking feature, then a gently flowing rock pool is ideal. A more formal home in a landscaped garden would suit a sheetfall or wet wall to complement the clean lines. If you are opting for a more laid-back Mediterranean look then fountains with sconces would be the perfect fit. Of course, consideration needs to be given to the cost of a water feature. Not only would you need to look at the actual installation and setup costs, but you would need to factor in whether your pool spout will require an additional pump, how much electricity would be required to run the pump(s), would this affect the evaporation of water in your pool which would require more frequent top-ups, and how much maintenance would it require? You would also want to contemplate whether the noise of the falling water would be a problem. For example, a rock waterfall would produce a fairly loud gushing sound which is perfect to drown out traffic noise, for instance, but wouldn’t be ideal for a quiet evening around the braai. Whatever your requirements are, we know that the fascination of a beautiful water feature in your swimming pool will be something for the family to enjoy for years to come. And we’d love to be able to offer you our services. Please give one of our friendly team a call and let us bring life to your pool.

Water features of all kinds are popular additions to any home. Whether indoors or outside, the sight and sound of falling water create a feeling of harmony and luxury. Of course, there are many ways to incorporate a water feature into your home, but one of the most visually spectacular options has to be a wet wall. Wet walls provide a dynamic focal point, guaranteed to draw attention. You can choose from a variety of wall surfaces – from marble and mirror to slate and glass, and pretty much everything else in between. For a truly dramatic effect, choose polished black stone, for example. The thin sheet of water clings to the surface like water over a glass tabletop. Or, if you prefer a more turbulent look, use a higher profile rough stone to create an active, almost white-water effect. The idea is simply to create a beautiful falling sheet of water that dances over any surface you choose. You could also take your wet wall one step further and create a Mylar lace fountain. This is a truly spectacular water feature, in which water runs noiselessly down seemingly infinite strands of Mylar lace, creating a glittering curtain.

Why Wet Walls Are So Wonderful

As with all water features, wet walls offer more than just visual drama. Falling water is known to soothe and relax your mind, and relieve stress. It also provides an acoustic barrier – white noise that blocks out undesirable sounds, such as traffic, for example. A wet wall is also a great humidifier, helping to neutralise the negative effects of dry air, such as dry skin, nasal congestion and a scratchy throat. Wet walls are also relatively easy to install, and need low flow and water speeds. You can choose to have your water come from the very top of your wall, or through a special groove located just below any coping you might use. For more information on wet walls and Mylar lace fountains, take a look at our range of water features, or call us directly on +27 11 7931381/2/3 or +27 11 793 6722.

As humans, we are biologically hard-wired to respond quickly to loud noises. It’s an evolutionary response based on the threat that sudden, unexpected noises used to present for us. For primitive man, a scream, or animal alarm call, always signalled danger. Even today, our brains process noises that come out of nowhere as threats, and gentle, slow noises as non-threats. This is why we are woken by our alarms, and soothed by continual, low noise, such as softly falling rain. The sound of gently falling water is actually one of the most soothing sounds there is, which is one of the reasons why rain curtains are such popular water features.

What Is A Rain Curtain?

You’ve probably seen one, but might not have known what it was called. You might only have thought it was beautiful, and been calmed by its visual beauty and soothing sound. Inspired by nature’s own rain curtains – the sheets of rain often seen on the horizon during an approaching storm – a water feature rain curtain is pretty much what it says – a vertical wall of “raindrops.” It creates both a visual and audio illusion – that of gently falling rain. Rain curtains are very popular as features for swimming pools, as well as inside office buildings as an eye-catching way of creating an opaque barrier to divide up a large space. In addition, because the sight and sound of flowing water is so soothing, as well as being reminiscent of healthy outdoor living, day spas, natural therapists and other, similar businesses often use them as backdrops for displays. They can also be used to great effect as temporary features at events and exhibitions.

Types Of Rain Curtain

There are two main types of rain curtain – closed and open. An open rain curtain is one you can literally reach out and touch, disrupting the fall of water with your hand. A closed system is where the water falls between two sheets of acrylic, or toughened glass. In both cases, the water is collected at the base of the feature and continually recycled. Rain curtains can also be enhanced with coloured or natural lighting. The light reflects off each and every falling droplet, making a spectacular and almost hypnotic feature. At Pool Spa and Filtration Supplies, we can help you design and install the perfect rain curtain – or any other water feature. Why not chat to us today, and you could soon be enjoying all the wonderful benefits of a rain curtain for yourself.

See what we did there? Sucks…vacuum…? A vacuum cleaner sucks up dirt….? Just trying to make you smile when you think about having to clean your pond! The fact is, cleaning your pond properly is an important part of your overall pond maintenance, so you have to just, well, suck it up! Actually, sucking up dirt from the bottom of your pond is easy if you use the right pond vacuum! Let’s face it – vacuuming is no one’s favourite job. At home, we probably only really do it before Aunty Mabel comes to visit – and then we only attack the places she can see! So why do we even need to vacuum the bottom of the fishpond – no one ever sees that? The truth is, there is gunk at the bottom of your pond. You might not be able to see it, but it’s there. Aquatic compost from plants, decaying leaves that fell onto the pond and then sank, uneaten fish food and debris washed into the pond by rain, all ends up as a potentially toxic sludge at the bottom of the pond. If you don’t vacuum up this sludge reasonably regularly, it starts to decay – and this produces ammonia. It can also create hydrogen sulphide, and neither of these gases is particularly fish friendly. They can also give your pond water an unpleasant smell. This is why regularly vacuuming your pond is essential for the good health of your fish, and to keep it as a pleasant feature in your garden.

Choosing The Right Pond Vacuum

All pond vacuums work in roughly the same way as a household vacuum cleaner, but instead of using airflow to create suction, they use water. The debris and sludge sucked in with the water are trapped in the vacuum’s filter, while the cleaned water is then returned to the pond. There are many different types of pond vacuum available, and the one that’s best for you depends mainly on the size and depth of your pond. For smaller ponds, water features and waterfalls, a hose powered vacuum cleaner is ideal. They are light and easy to use and have the added advantage of being less expensive than the pump powered models Larger ponds require pump powered vacuum cleaners, and you could also explore investing in a pond-side vacuum. The friendly experts at Pool Spa and Filtration Supplies would love to help you choose the pond vacuum that’s perfect for your pond. Take a look at our range, or call us for more information.

Ask any resort lodge or vacation station and they’ll tell you how their bookings have sky-rocketed since adding spa baths a.k.a. hot tubs or jacuzzies to their accommodation options. This tells us plenty about what friends and family require for relaxation and fun. With winter just ahead, what better way to ward off chilly nights than sipping hot chocolate with rum in your own hot spa bath at the end of the day. After the purchase, installation and filling costs are done, you have an investment that not only adds value to your property but an excellent way to beat daily stress, have family fun and entertain on the cheap in your own home. An indoor-outdoor feel can be easily arranged by installing sliding glass doors or roll away doors. The most popular positions for hot spa baths are deck installations close to the house. Just imagine all the girls happy to be in the hot spa while you and the boys watch the rugby in peace. The health benefits alone will have you on the phone ordering an installation before finishing this article. Here are our hot spa bath health tips:

1. Weight loss and diabetes

Thought that would get your attention! It’s no joke- studies have shown that regular spa bathing reduces blood sugar and blood glucose levels. 30 minutes in the hot tub, six days a week can get rid of 2 kg’s a month without any dietary or exercise change. Well, every little bit helps right?

2. Stress and headaches

But of course! Just the thought of sinking a tired, aching body into the hot tub at the end of a day is relaxing, never mind the real deal. When the warm water dilates your blood vessels, the pressure in your head decreases - many a headache has been alleviated in a beautiful spa bath. With soft candlelight, never overlook simple ways to reduce anxiety and stress.

3. Lowers Blood Pressure

By now you’re getting the idea that the long sit in the warm water has good effect on your blood vessels. The heart rate actually rises due to the hot water, which in turn, lowers blood pressure – think of it as a soft cardio workout.

4. Alleviates pain and aids sleep

Arthritis, knee pain, lower back pain and any athletic injury like muscle and tendon pulls seem to dissolve in the hot spa water. With the stress reductions, a light cardio effect, lower blood pressure and relaxed muscles and the tension headache gone, the next thing is a fabulous night’s sleep. Just don’t be falling asleep in the tub! Besides all the good reasons involving family fun and warmth in chilly winters, hot spa baths not only add great value to property but are fast becoming deal breakers. More and more folk are looking for ways to entertain at home to keep costs down without spoiling the family fun. Whether placed indoors or partially outdoors on a deck with a view, just imagine watching the winter sunset from the comfort of your own hot spa. So, get one already! Contact us …..

No need for money shortage to make holidays a thing of the past. Families the world over are opting for staycations and they’re loving every minute. There are many ideas for creating the right environment for a successful holiday at home but it goes without saying that swimming pools are a great start. Winter is no excuse either because warming swimming pool water can be done virtually for free. Here are some ideas to create an inviting ambience for holidays at your own poolside – the ideal staycation location:

Fall and Winter Poolside staycations ideas:

First; you’ll want to organise to warm the pool water – no sweat. Read our blog article on smart ways to do so. The easiest and most fun way is to buy colourful Hula-Hoops and make ‘lily pad’ effect water warmers by attaching the black plastic to each one and inviting the whole family to fling them onto the pool surface after each swim during the poolside staycation event. Second; use the Fall a.k.a. Autumn period to get some braziers to place at strategic points - safety first, décor second. Home-made ones are dead easy if you’re happy to use braced chicken fencing to house the wood and coals in a tubular feature. Once the swimming is over, the party won’t die if there are warm fires, besides the inevitable braai, to huddle around. Staycations must be a beautiful, repeatable experience for those of you with swimming pools in the yard. Third; because you’re advocating chilly nights more or less outdoors when possible, tube lights or fairy lights in the garden and hanging from surrounding trees will go a long way to giving a festive and warm vibe. Fourth; family vacations are often marked by a particular song or two that set a holiday mood and quickly bring happy times back to mind. Have speakers placed near enough to the pool so that you can create that same happy memory for your poolside staycations. Ask for input from all the family members - likely some compromises will have to be made as to genre! Lastly, invite friends to join you. Why hog all the fun!  

Spring and Summer poolside staycation ideas:

So, the lily pad hula-hoops will be packed away for the next Winter and now’s the time to create Summer magic. First; what about floating candle creations? The whole family can get involved in a project to make them safe, effective and pretty. Flowers and candles look great together and staycation magic is assured. Second; spend a bit obtaining sturdy sun umbrellas – preferable those heavy-duty kinds that stand on firm cement bases. The sun is now the enemy, so arrange total shade over a section of the pool, so the ladies can linger in the water with the babies and small children. Third; If suitable, set up a net halfway across the pool for fabulous games of water volleyball. If you have an odd shape, play a version of touch rugby - lasts for hours and is endless fun. A Staycation championship can be organised among the children’s friends and for sure, everyone will want to be with you for your poolside staycations. Fourth; this is optional of course, but there’s nothing like reading on vacations, so encourage poolside time by having either floating blow-up chairs or something under the brolly where feet can be hung into the water at the same time – this is a sure hit for the holiday feeling. In short, staycations could outdo vacations in so many ways. Poolside parties all year round can turn your investment into a knock-on money saver. With a little innovation and careful planning, staycation ideas will have the whole family begging to stay home rather than slugging off in the car for hours and hours of driving to reach a destination that may not ever be as comfortable and relaxing as being at your own home, entertaining at your won poolside. Roll on staycation time! Contact us for your pool requirements anytime …..